What do you do? (ranting, sorry)

oliversmommy32912 · December 2012

Warning...I have had some serious PMS this week.

I was unloading groceries from my shopping cart into my cart today. It was raining...not really hard, just a drizzle (we live in Seattle, it's like this often), but enough so that it was cold and pretty wet. I put DS in the car and strapped him into his car seat first and then unloaded groceries. Then I returned my shopping cart and went to get back in the car. This lady was standing there, which I thought was kind of weird. Then she said to me "Did you just leave the baby in the car while your returned your cart?" I was like..."Uh, yeah, it's raining..." She said "Well don't take this the wrong way but that's very dangerous. You should never leave a baby in the car alone. You don't know what can happen." I said "Mind your own business!" (see: PMS) and got in my car and drove away. I was really irritated! What the heck was I supposed to do, make my baby sit in the cart in the rain while I take the cart back? The cart return was like seven car lengths away and I locked the doors. I get that there are some weird baby snatchers out there but it would take a pretty skilled kidnapper to break into my locked car and unstrapped him from his Chinese car seat puzzle in the 20 seconds it took me to return the cart. I also get that some crazed driver could hit the car but they could hit us while we're walking to the cart return...I think he is safer strapped into his seat. I just don't see the big deal!

Am I wrong in doing this? Do you all carry the baby with you when you return your shopping cart? I never saw it as a big deal but maybe she was right. I don't think it changes the fact that she should have just minded her own business, but I am curious what other moms are doing.

amandadot · December 2012

It depends, if I park close enough to see the return or the weather is bad I will strap DD in and return the buggy, if the weather is nice or I'm too far away to get back in a jiffy, I tote her.

But with the rain, I think you were right in strapping your LO in.

I once walked upon a car that had been left in the Georgia heat with the windows down, doors unlocked, in a busy areas with 2 LO's strapped in while the mother went into the restaurant to pick up dinner. A guy infront of me had called the cops, I was sympethetic to her but in that situation it was dangerous.

addam&tara · December 2012

I would have done the same thing. If the cart return is a few spaces away I am that terd who leaves the cart in the aisle or in front of my car.

LOL about crazy carseat puzzle!! So true

oliversmommy32912 · December 2012

theresat858:
I don't put LO in her carseat until after I return the shopping cart, but I'm always wearing her when we are shopping so this is easy. I am paranoid about leaving LO in the car if I am not right there.

Things were so much easier when I could wear him. He went on a babywearing strike about a month ago and hasn't tolerated it since.

megann831 · December 2012

even if you were wearing him, you still wouldn't want him out in the rain. I always put the kids in the car when I unpack the groceries because it's more comfortable. Most of the time I park next to the cart return, honestly I don't think it'd go more than 3 or 4 spots away to return it, I'd just leave it in an open spot

cltk12 · December 2012

I do exactly what you do. I always park as close to the return as possible so I can grab a cart and put baby in on the way into the store.

Imho baby is safer in the car while loading the bags into the car rather then waiting in the cart with crazy drivers out there who may hit the cart.

tjkdlhb · December 2012

cltk12:
I do exactly what you do. I always park as close to the return as possible so I can grab a cart and put baby in on the way into the store.
Imho baby is safer in the car while loading the bags into the car rather then waiting in the cart with crazy drivers out there who may hit the cart.

This. A crazy nearly nailed me yesterday in the parking lot.

BiscuitEater21 · December 2012

In this situation, this is when I really appreciate when the cart returners are outside and do it for me (: but I don't think there was anything wrong with what you did. I don't think anything bad could have happened being locked in and everything. What is someone going to break out your window and try to take LO all strapped in his careseat and you're in the lot??? Doubtful.. Lol

Nel11 · December 2012

I think you're fine... I've actually thought extensively about this particular situation. I too used to wear LO, which made it super easy. She still likes her carrier, but she loves the cart too, so now I usually put her in the cart. What I like to is to park 1 space away from the cart return, so that I'm not right next to it (don't want my car getting dinged) but I'm literally 8 feet from the car. That way I can put her in the car and put the cart back without having my back to the car or going far away. One of my biggest pet peeves is people who don't return their carts.

Also, while it can certainly be dangerous leaving a baby in the car (heat, length of time, etc) I agree with whoever said it's more dangerous in the parking lot. I always feel more nervous with LO in the cart than I do once she is back in the car.

LoriLee14 · December 2012

This is one of those things that i just smile and say ok, thank you. I don't care what they think is best (i had a woman tell me i was feeding my baby wrong- he was 7 months old and it was a puree). I go about my day and she goes off thinking she did what was best.

I usually park right next to the cart return if i am by myself.

and i'm not saying anything against you. I have done what you have done. But maybe she heard that story about a car theft stole a car with the child buckled in the car. The mother ran inside a gas station to buy cigs

orleyl · December 2012

I do that all the time with my 2 kids. Sorry but I am not bringing a 2 year old and 6 month old to return the cart. I always lock the door and it takes 30 seconds or less while I see my vehicle. I dont see the big deal, ignore the lady.

heymommy · December 2012

I put my kids and grocerys in the car , lock it then take my cart to the thing. If its hot out ( I'm in GA). I might take them with me.

kalette · December 2012

I don't usually return cart anymore... .

terrible I know...

laoch101 · December 2012

Nel11:
I think you're fine... I've actually thought extensively about this particular situation. I too used to wear LO, which made it super easy. She still likes her carrier, but she loves the cart too, so now I usually put her in the cart. What I like to is to park 1 space away from the cart return, so that I'm not right next to it (don't want my car getting dinged) but I'm literally 8 feet from the car. That way I can put her in the car and put the cart back without having my back to the car or going far away. One of my biggest pet peeves is people who don't return their carts.
Also, while it can certainly be dangerous leaving a baby in the car (heat, length of time, etc) I agree with whoever said it's more dangerous in the parking lot. I always feel more nervous with LO in the cart than I do once she is back in the car.

This exactly! I think that was the appropriate response too.

Divallyn · December 2012

I would of done the same thing. It's like waking a sleeping baby in a locked car to go pay for your gas which takes two minutes and you see the car the entire time. It would take some lunatic a lot longer than the 15 seconds if would take you to run to the car to break into the vehicle.

Geesh, people. Are so critical of parents.

nunzchucks · December 2012

I do the same thing, too. It's going to snow here soon and I'm not going to leave DD outside to get even colder.

aeh72 · December 2012

Ugh - I'm sorry this happened to you because this very situation causes me stress when I go shopping. Basically, I will park in a spot as close to a cart return as I can get - even if that spot is way at the back of the lot and I could park closer just not near a cart return. I strap DS into his carseat, lock the doors and then put the cart away. But, if I had to park far away from a cart return, I would take him with me.

bpv101283 · December 2012

I think it's better to leave baby in the car for thirty seconds than be the complete ahole that doesn't return the cart. It's one of the rudest things ever. I saw an elderly woman who got pinned under a car because someone was trying to avoid a runaway cart and didn't see her. It's not only rude, it can be dangerous. What if they swerved and you and baby were under that car? Baby is fine in the car seat. While you are a few meters away.

KristenS09 · December 2012

I always try to park right next to the cart thing but when that isn't possible I do the same thing. People are so nosy!

Side note: I had some one comment to me I needed a coat and shoes on my baby when 1) it was 60 degrees and 2) I had just pulled her out of the car seat and was walking 2 feet intoa restaurant. This same person was SMOKING while talking to me and DD. I told her to mind her business.

LER091811 · December 2012

I go to a small farmer's market with a small parking lot, and the return area is extremely close to the car. I wear her in her carrier, but usually put her in her car seat before loading up the groceries so she isn't in the cold too much or getting jostled around while I'm arranging things. So yeah I do leave her in there for the 3 seconds while I push the cart back. It does not concern me.

Lynnette171 · December 2012

I always park close to the cart return if we need a cart, and I always put LO in the car first, then unload, the lock the doors and return the cart. I do this even though I wear him. I wouldn't do it if the cart return wasn't close though.

KatFCo · December 2012

Personally, 7 cars away is a bit far for my comfort level. If I couldn't find a space closer to the cart corral, I would have taken him with me.

However, I don't judge you for your choice and the lady was out of line.

Everyusernameistaken · December 2012

I guess I'm in the minority...I personally would never leave my baby in the car unless I was right next to the cart return (even then I probably wouldn't). I always return my cart and carry my baby back to the car...I would much rather my baby get wet than leave him in the car. I have images of the car being stolen with him inside it (my car was stolen from a mall parking lot pre-baby).

But I'm a paranoid FTM who even closes my garage door if my lil dude is in the car and I've forgotten something and need to run inside for 2 seconds so...take that how you will.

kkfeb04 · December 2012

DaisyBlinks:
I would have done the same thing you did. People who don't return the carts are douchebags.

I love you and miss you too oh and I agree with the bolded.

atdavis87 · December 2012

cltk12:
I do exactly what you do. nbsp;I always park as close to the return as possible so I can grab a cart and put baby in on the way into the store.Imho baby is safer in the car while loading the bags into the car rather then waiting in the cart with crazy drivers out there who may hit the cart.

Ditto.

Heather8888 · December 2012

OMG this stuff happens to me too... people mind your own business!! I'm sure if it was raining I would have done the same thing too... but the point is - it's none of her business!! I get this from 60-70 year old ladies - its annoying.

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